Chapter 24

MC POV

As we dashed toward Douma at our top speed, I quickly unsheathed my onyx blade and executed a downward slash from above. Simultaneously, Shinobu unsheathed her nichirin and performed a diagonal slash. However, Douma swiftly unfurled both his fans, effectively blocking our strikes. A sense of unease crept up on me as we struggled against him. Douma then pushed us away, sending me skidding two meters back while Shinobu was sent flying .

Realizing the need to intensify our efforts, I unsheathed my second blade. Douma, with a confident smile, executed a forward slash with one of his fans, uttering, "Blood Demon Art: Frozen Lotus." Suddenly, six ice lotuses and numerous ice shards materialized in front of him.

The ice constructs then advanced towards both me and Shinobu. Focused on the impending threat, I began cutting through each ice lotus that came my way, while Shinobu adeptly dodged the onslaught of ice shards.

In a hushed voice, I muttered, "Constellation Breathing Third Form: Gemini Twin Blades," and swiftly lunged at Douma once again. His response was a confident smile. Closing in, I began executing my technique, preparing for the initial two slashes.

However, Douma gleefully interrupted, uttering, "Blood Demon Art: Barren Hanging Garden." Simultaneously, he executed two slashes with his fans, continuously generating ice shards. Engaged in a relentless exchange, my Gemini form clashed against his, steel meeting steel.

Amidst our clashes, I noticed Shinobu circling Douma, swiftly advancing from behind. Just as I was readying my final two slashes, Douma countered with his fans, blocking them. This diversion, however, provided an opening for Shinobu, who managed to stab Douma in the back, causing a momentary falter. Seizing the opportunity, I pressed on for the kill.

Douma, though, had enough time to block with one of his fans. The joyful expression vanished from his face as he stared at my blade dangerously close to his neck.

A look filled with murderous intent replaced his prior demeanor. In a deathly tone, he uttered, "Blood Demon Art: Wintry Icicles." Utilizing my X-ray vision, I quickly surveyed the surroundings, discovering numerous ice shards suspended above the spot where Shinobu, Douma, and I stood. Urgently, I shouted, "Shinobu, back!"

Both of us swiftly retreated as Douma executed a downward slash with one of his fans, causing the icicles to descend. I parried and dodged each one, and Shinobu did the same.

Douma maintained the same murderous gaze and proclaimed, "Blood Demon Art: Freezing Clouds." An icy wind swirled around him, but my X-ray vision allowed me to keep track of his movements. As the frosty mist gathered, Douma executed a 360 spin with his fans, causing the ice fog to spread toward us.

Anticipating the threat, I closed my eyes to shield them from potential injury. Once the cold sensation subsided, I reopened my eyes to a transformed scene—the once vibrant garden now lay beneath a blanket of ice.

Observing Shinobu, I noticed her rubbing her eyes. It appeared she hadn't closed them in time, allowing some ice shards to irritate them. Unfazed, Douma unleashed another technique, announcing, "Blood Demon Art: Lotus Vines."

Four lotus vines emerged from the tip of his fans, each adorned with lotus-shaped icicle shards along their edges. Swinging them around, Douma launched his icy assault. I adeptly dodged and parried each oncoming attack. However, a glance at Shinobu revealed that she struggled to keep up, her eyes still watery from the lingering effects of the ice fog.

As I observed Shinobu still struggling to parry the lotus vines, I grit my teeth a feeling of helplessness started coming over me. Her silhouette seemed to overlap with Kanae's own, intensifying my resolve. Realizing I couldn't remain on the defensive any longer, I bellowed, "Constellation Breathing Fifth Form: Leo Strikes Double." With determination, I dashed at Douma, whose colorful eyes showed a glimmer of interest as he turned his attention toward me.

Douma responded by whipping his ice vines even faster. My strategy was clear—diagonally slashing at each oncoming vine, aiming to divert his focus entirely onto me. Drawing closer, I successfully captured his attention, prompting him to swing his remaining vines solely at me. This respite allowed Shinobu some much-needed time to recover.

Leveraging my X-ray vision, I meticulously slashed and cut off sections of the ice vines. The unpredictable movements of the vines were laid bare before me, enabling precise and effective strikes.

As the Leo Strikes Double brought me closer to Douma, the clash intensified, creating a mesmerizing display of steel meeting steel in the icy garden. The metallic resonance of our blades echoed through the frozen air, forming a chilling symphony that encapsulated the intensity of our battle.

Douma's fans danced gracefully, a deadly ballet of ice and steel, while my onyx and white nichirins cut through the air with precision. The colorful hues of his eyes reflected the ominous beauty of the confrontation, a stark contrast to the harsh reality of our combat.

Each slash and parry became a dance of death, a relentless exchange that painted the garden with the swirls of ice and blood. Douma's regal attire billowed around him like an ethereal cloak, adding an otherworldly element to the brutal struggle. The cold air bore witness to the clash, carrying with it the visible puffs of our heated breaths.

The garden itself seemed to come alive with the battle's energy. I could feel the crunch of ice beneath my boots, the biting cold seeping through my haori. The surroundings transformed into an icy battleground, mirroring the ferocity of our conflict.

Despite my best efforts, Douma's strength and speed proved daunting. The constant regeneration from his wounds added an element of frustration to the fight. The Leo Strikes Double, one of my most powerful offensive techniques, now felt like a desperate attempt to gain an upper hand.

Shinobu's interventions from the sidelines provided brief moments of relief. Her precise stabs disrupted Douma's rhythm, creating openings for me to exploit. Yet, as the battle raged on, the realization sank in that a mere offensive assault wouldn't be enough.

The chilling air carried not only the echoes of our battle but also the unspoken understanding that a tactical shift was imperative. Each slash I unleashed,kept on getting slower and slower. If I didn't change strategies soon I was going to lose.

*Author Note: I know it is a cliffhanger sorry XD. But yeah I am back to uploading chapters since I finished my exams, crushed them by the way. Either way I know this chapter is a bit short but hey what you gonna do. I also wanted to get more into the feeling of the battle and the struggle in this one, instead of just fighting all the time which I think I did pretty well in the last paragraphs. Tell me how I did and if you liked this new mix and style or if I should go back to just writing the fight itself.*